Shoe-fastener.



T BUTLER; suns mamas, APPLICATION FILED APR- 5. 1918- 1,276,026. Patented Aug. 20, 191&

INVENTOR 72604 02 6 511176!" BY fidwM -m.

ms Pnzns 00.. Imam-Lima. wumnomn. n c.

THEODORE BUTLER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SHOE-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2c, 1918.

Application filed April 6, 1918. Serial No. 227,075..

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE BUTLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, useful Improvements in Shoe-Fasteners, which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to shoe fasteners, aiming primarily to provide improved means for use upon-shoesto obviate the necessity of laces and buttons now used for holding the shoes upon the feet, whlch will insure proper fitting of the shoes, which will hold the upper snugly upon the foot, and which will present an attractive appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoe fastener which may be quickly and easily applied to or removed from the shoe, and which is constructed in such manner as to adapt itself to the configuration of the instep.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe of conventional form, and illustrating the application of a fastening device constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a transversely sectional view taken substantially upon line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the plates constituting a part of the supporting body, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional View illustrating the manner in which the body is fastened to the shoe and showing the means by which the plates constituting the body are secured together.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the body consists of a plurality of plates 5 pivoted together at their ends as at 6. These plates may be formed of thin metal and by pivoting the same together in the manner shown, it is obvious that they may adapt themselves to the shape of the foot. One end of each of the plates is depressed a distance equal to the thickness of the next adjacent plate, as indicated at 7, and this depressed portion is adapted to receive and support the said end of the next have invented certain new and adjacent plate, rivets or pivot pins 8 being employed to secure the said ends together. The end plate of the central supporting body isbent at its free extremity as at 9 so as to provide a hook adapted to engage in an eyelet in the shoe at the base of the tongue of the latter.

Each of the plates 5 is provided at its longitudinal edges with slots 10, within which the inner ends of the members 11 engage, the hooks at the outer ends of the members 11 being indicated at 12.

In practice, the central supporting body consisting of the plates 5 is positioned between the adjacent front edges of the shoe, and the hook member 9 is engaged within a suitable eyelet adjacent the base of the tongue of the shoe. The supporting body rests upon the instep, and the books 12 which project laterally from the various plates are engaged within the eyelets in which the lacings for the shoe are usually threaded. When the device has thus been applied to the shoe, it is obvious that the same will be held properly fitted upon the foot, and the hook members will securely hold the shoe uppers against becoming loose upon the foot. The material of which the device is constructed may be of cheap or expensive metal, and if desired, the various plates may be engraved or may be studded with precious stones.

The foregoing description and the drawings have reference to what may be considered the preferred, or approved form of my invention. It is to be understood that I may make such changes in the construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, etc., as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In a securing device of the class described, a central supporting body, and hook members carried by said body and projecting laterally beyond the same.

2. In a securing device of the class described, a central supporting body, a fastening member on said body for securing the latter to a base, and hook members carried by said body and projecting laterally beyond the same.

3. In a securing device of the class described, a central supporting body, means for securing the same to a base, and hook memsaid bers arranged in spaced relation upon body and projecting laterally therefrom."

In a securing device of the class described, a central flexible supporting body, means, for. securing the said body to a base, and hook members hinged upon said body and projecting laterally in spaced relation therefrom.

5. In a securing device. of the classde: scribed, a, central supportingbody comprise inga plurality, of links connectedvtogebher,

end to end, and'hook members on each link projecting lat rally therefrom- '6. In a securing device of the classtde: scribed, a central supporting body compris: ing a plurality of plates pivoted togetherend toiend, a hookat thefree end of one ofthe nks ofsaicl body, each link being providedl prising a plurality of plates, one end of each plate being depressed a distance equalto the thicknessot the negt adjacent plate and being adapted to support the end of the said next adjacent plate, pivots v connecting, the

sa d ends of, said plat s, and hooks. PIlQQting lateral y rom the said ates- In testim ny h n. in. presence o wo. Witnesses- REBUTLEB- zitnesses; I

ERANQIS P DWXTEB, Gmca BUTPEB- c pi o t i patent may beehtfiesles.a lments e, 91 sses es. 31s- Passa es?! a 3am we hies mlkqfl pfl affix my si nat e. 

